Iran's sports minister Ahmad Donyamali has declared the country will not participate in the 2026 World Cup, citing safety concerns after the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The team was scheduled to play three group matches in the United States against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. The decision comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US following military strikes.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino previously stated that US President Donald Trump had assured him Iran was welcome to compete at the tournament. However, Donyamali told Iranian state media that "our boys are not safe" and conditions for participation do not exist. The sports minister emphasized that over 8,000 Iranians have been killed in recent conflicts, making World Cup participation impossible.

Despite the minister's comments, Iran's participation remains uncertain as the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran has final authority. Fifa rules allow the governing body to replace withdrawing teams at its discretion. This situation echoes Iran's 1982 World Cup qualifying refusal to play Kuwait, which resulted in missing the 1986 tournament. With play-off matches determining final qualifiers later this month, Fifa is likely to wait before making any decisions about Iran's status.